Top 5 Myths About Tower Bridge in London Debunked

Think you’ve got Tower Bridge all figured out? You’d be surprised by how many people—both visitors and Londoners—get key facts wrong about this famous crossing. In a city bursting with history, Tower Bridge stands out as a London attraction that’s just as surrounded by tall tales as it is by the Thames itself. Dodgy trivia gets passed around on open-top buses, in late-night Black Cab chats, and at every family picnic within sight of the south bank.

If you’re planning a stroll along the Queen’s Walk or taking your mates to Borough Market, it actually pays to know how Tower Bridge really works. Let’s slice through the confusion and set things straight, so next time your mate claims the ‘real’ London Bridge is the pretty one, you can confidently set them right—maybe after grabbing coffee at the nearby Watch House café.

• Myth 1: Tower Bridge Is London Bridge
• Myth 2: The Bridge Opens on a Set Schedule
• Myth 3: You Can’t Walk Across the Top
• Myth 4: It Was Painted Blue and White from the Start
• Myth 5: Tower Bridge Has No Onsite Secrets

Myth 1: Tower Bridge Is London Bridge

This one trips people up all the time. Tourists snap photos thinking they’ve bagged a London must-see, only to find out later they got the names mixed up. Let’s clear it up: Tower Bridge is the grand, stone-and-steel drawbridge with the two towers right by the Tower of London. London Bridge is much plainer and sits to the west, linking Borough to the City.

The easiest way to spot the difference? Tower Bridge has the two huge towers and a skywalk. London Bridge looks, frankly, a bit ordinary. You won’t see any Victorian flourishes or blue paint. Locals usually cross London Bridge heading to Cannon Street station or Borough Market—not because it’s a tourist magnet.

People mix them up for a couple of reasons:

• The giant, castle-like towers on Tower Bridge seem more "London-ish."
• London Bridge has the famous name, but not the flashy design.
• Pop culture and films often get it wrong too.

And there’s the old story from the 1960s, when an American bought "London Bridge" thinking he was buying Tower Bridge. The real London Bridge from 1831 now sits in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The bridge at that spot in London today is a 1970s rebuild. If you’re standing on a big, grey, modern-looking bridge without fancy towers—yep, that’s London Bridge.

The bottom line: Want that classic postcard shot? Make sure you’re looking at Tower Bridge, not London Bridge. If you need directions, ask a local—they’ll point you right.

Myth 2: The Bridge Opens on a Set Schedule

Loads of people think Tower Bridge opens every hour or just a couple times a day, like clockwork. But here’s the truth: there’s no fixed schedule at all. The bridge opens only when a big enough vessel needs to go through. So if you fancy timing your walk to spot the bascules rise, you’ll need to do a bit of planning.

Bridge lifts happen whenever boats that are tall enough—usually some of the bigger tourist boats, historic ships, or even military vessels—give 24 hours’ notice. There’s nothing automatic about it. It could open at breakfast, right after lunch, or even when you’re checking your phone on Tower Hill.

If you want to catch a lift, your best bet is to check the official Tower Bridge lift times online. The folks at the bridge keep an up-to-date timetable, so you don’t have to guess. Here’s what you’ll usually see:

Here’s the important bit: the bridge lifts are totally free to watch, and locals often get a better spot than tourists by waiting on the north side near St. Katharine Docks. If you want those Instagram shots without the crowd, plan a weekday visit. And for those using the bridge as part of their commute—no worries. Pedestrian walkways stay open, and traffic only stops for about 5-10 minutes at a time. In a nutshell, there’s no magic schedule. If catching a bascule in action is on your bucket list, check the times and get there a little early for the best view of this London landmark in motion.

Myth 3: You Can’t Walk Across the Top

Ask people about Tower Bridge, and you’ll hear this one a lot—“Shame you can’t walk across the top.” But you absolutely can, and honestly, you’re missing out if you just cross the bottom like every other commuter. Since the Tower Bridge Exhibition opened back in 1982, visitors have been able to head up and walk high above the Thames on the glass-floored walkways. Yes, those panoramic photos of London’s skyline? Snapped from right up there, with The Shard, St. Paul’s, and Canary Wharf all in view on a clear day.

The glass walkways are 42 metres above the river, and you really do get a stomach-dropping view straight down to the road and water below. Each year, thousands of people cross here—families, Londoners, and tourists who fancy testing their nerves. During the 2012 Olympics, crowds gathered on the walkways for the best spot to see the rings hanging from the bridge.

It’s not a hidden perk—entry is easy. Book tickets online or pick them up at the entrance (but booking in advance saves time, especially on half term weekends). The walkways are open daily from 9:30am–6pm, with last entry at 5pm. You can even book it for birthdays or small events if you’re planning something extra. Here’s how the experience breaks down:

• Take the lift up from the North or South Towers—no exhausting spiral stairs unless you fancy the exercise.
• Walk between the towers on the top-level East and West walkways—each with those famous glass panels.
• Check out the history exhibits, photos, and local stories lining the route.
• Stop by the Engine Rooms on the way out to see how the bascules still lift for passing boats.

For anyone wondering about safety or accessibility, the whole top walkway is step-free and wheelchair-friendly. Got vertigo? There are solid floor panels on each side, so you don’t have to look straight down. Here’s a quick-look table for practical details:

So next time someone says you can’t actually go across the top of Tower Bridge, just invite them up. It’s one of those proper London experiences—up there with a rainy match at Stamford Bridge or catching that first glimpse of the Christmas lights on Oxford Street. Give it a go, and you might be surprised how many photo ops and quirky London facts you pick up along the way.

Myth 4: It Was Painted Blue and White from the Start

People look at Tower Bridge today and just assume it’s always sported those bold blue and white colours. But that’s not how it started out. When Tower Bridge first opened in 1894, the Victorians actually went for something much more practical—plain brown!

The bridge’s first paint job was a standard dark brown, mainly to hide the grime of heavy London traffic and pollution. It wasn’t until 1977, for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, that the bridge switched to the now iconic blue, white, and red scheme. They wanted to show off a bit for the celebration, so the paint got a major update. The red details have faded into the background a bit over the years, but if you look closely, you’ll still find little touches, especially around the bascules.

“The original colour scheme was far from the cheerful palette we see today. It was all about function and durability,” said a City of London guide in a recent walking tour.

If you think Tower Bridge always popped in photos or Instagram stories, check out these paint facts:

This repaint project isn’t some quick touch-up, either; it’s a big job. Crews repaint the bridge about every 25 years. That means if you’re taking photos in 2025, the colour might be a little brighter or cleaner than you remember from a decade ago. Fun tip—if you’re walking past on a weekday morning, you might even spot the painters at work.

• If you want to see the different colour layers, look closely at the joints and bolts next time you’re on the walkways.
• Trying to match the bridge’s blue for everything from fashion to cakes? Ask for “Tower Bridge Blue”—apparently, some local decorators do!

So, Tower Bridge hasn’t always been the bold blue you see in every London landmarks guidebook. It’s a modern makeover, not a Victorian original.

Myth 5: Tower Bridge Has No Onsite Secrets

If you think Tower Bridge is just another London bridge with nothing hidden up its sleeve, you’re missing out. There’s a lot going on behind those iconic towers that most people only notice if they know what to look for.

First off, the old Victorian engine rooms still sit right under your feet. Back in the day, these steam-powered machines lifted the Bridge’s bascules (the bit that goes up) to let ships through. Now, they’re open to visitors and packed with displays—great if you want to geek out or impress your mates with real mechanical know-how.

• The original coal-fired steam engines powered the bridge lifts from its opening in 1894 right up until 1976.
• Today’s lifts are electric, but you can go right into the old engine rooms to see and hear them in action (minus the coal dust, thankfully).
• Book your tickets online, especially on weekends—locals know it gets busy near Southbank in the spring and summer.

Then there’s the high-level Walkways. Loads of people don’t realise you can actually walk across the top, 42 metres above the Thames, and look down through glass floors. The views of the Shard, St Katharine Docks, and the ever-busy river boats are unreal, especially on a clear afternoon. If you’re into quirky photo ops or want a fresh spot for your next Instagram post, this is your place.

But it doesn’t stop there. Check out the little blue doors on either side of the Bridge—most never notice these. They’re not for decoration. One of them houses a secret* police post, installed back in the 1960s to keep an eye on traffic and crowds before CCTV took over. (*Okay, not so secret now, but you get the idea.)

Locals tip: Planning to catch the bascules opening? Find the actual schedule on the official Tower Bridge website, not random blogs. They open over 800 times a year. Here’s a quick look at some stats about Tower Bridge’s best hidden features:

So next time you’re near Tower Bridge, skip just the selfies. Explore the nooks, bring a friend who loves history, and keep your eyes peeled for details you’ve likely missed before.